Train-operated time-signal system for railways.



PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904. 7

*w. B. SEVERANGE.

TRAIN OPERATED TIME SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902;

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No. 763,515- PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

W. B. SEVERANGE.

TRAIN OPERATED TIME SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902.

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N0.'763,515- PATENTED JUNE 28. 1904.

W. B. SEVERANGE.

TRAIN OPERATED TIME SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902.

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PATENTED JUNE '28, 1904.

W. B. SEVERANGE. TRAIN OPERATED TIME SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

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Gimme/14o Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BERNARD SEVERANCE, OF AUBURN, NEWV HAMPSHIRE.

TRAIN-OPERATED TIME-SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,515, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed November 10, 1902. serial No. 130,731. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM BERNARD SEV- RANoE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Auburn, in the county of Rockingham and State of NewHampshire, have invented signal at danger as a train passes a sta. 1 I un n tion, maintaining the signal at danger during an appropriate periodof time, and at the expiration thereof setting the. signal at safety toprevent rear-end collisions.

My invention consists in the'combination and arrangement of deviceshereinafter fully.

described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a diagrammatic plan view of atrain-operated railway time-signal embodying my invention, showing theelectromagnetic circuit-closing device 2 closed to stop the timemechanism and showing the signal set at safety, it being assumed thatthe time limit has not expired to permit the controller to close thecircuit at a a. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the electromagneticcircuit-closing device 3 closed, the hand of the time mechanism turnedback to the starting-point, and the signal set at danger. Fig. 3 is asimilar view'showing the electromagnetic circuit-closing device 4 closedto start the time mechanism in operation. Fig. 4: is a similar Viewshowing the normal positions of the various mechanisms of the systemafter a train has passed and operated the electromagneticcircuit-closing device 5' and at the expiration of the period of time atwhich the time mechanism'closes an electric circuit which effects theoperation of the signal and returns the latter to safety. Fig. 5 is adetail View of one of the train-operated circuit-closers.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a stop-clock or time mechanismhaving an operating-stem which when first pressedassuming the clock tobe in operationstops the clock, when pressed the second time turns thehand back to the starting-point, and when pressed the third time startsthe clock in operation again. Usually the time mechanism is constructedto operate at each starting thereof for a period of five minutes; butthis may be varied as may be required or desirable. The stop-clock willbe at a station 0 midway, or substantially so, between thetrain-operated devices 1 to 5 in the track, disposed and adapted to beoperated by the wheels of passing trains.

The device 1 may be a circuit-closer of any suitable form. It should belocated in the track at least a trains length from one side of thestation and is in circuit with a battery 1 and an electromagnet 1.

The stop-clock or time mechanism has a pair of electrodes at in an opencircuit, in which is included a battery (0, an electrically-operatedsignal (6 and an-electromagnet (f, the armature a of which is connectedby a lever to the stem of the stop-clock, which may be operated when theelectromagnet a is energized. Also included in this circuit areelectromagnets a a. The armature a of the latter is I included in itscircuit, which it breaks when the electromagneta is energized; Anelectromagnet a is also included in this circuit.

The armature 1 of the electromagnet 1 forms a catch or detent to engageand retain a make-andbreak l when the electromagnet 1 is inert and torelease the make-and-break when said electromagnet is energized. Themake-andbreak is here shown as a springconductor to engage and disengagea conductor in a line in which is included a battery 6, an electromagnet7) to operate the stem of the stop-clock, a switch-armature 71 and anelectromagnet 2, and in open circuit armature 2 and armatures 3MElectromagnets c, d, a, and 3 are also included in open shuntcircuittherewith. Electromagnets f and 4 are also included in openshunt-circuit therewith.

At suitable distances from the circuit-closer 1 and from each other aretrain-operated de vices 2 3&5, each of which comprises aspring elevatedpressrod .71 and a lever 71 The former is here shown as guided in anopening -make-and-break at 2".

mature in of electromagnet e is included in ain the head of the rail,and the latter is shown pivoted at .2 and extending to one-side of therail. The rod is normally elevated by its spring, so that it projectsabove the rail until depressed by a wheel of a passing train to operatethe lever. The lever of the device 2 when operated closes themake-and-break armature 2" of the electromagnet 2. That of the device3performs the same oflice for the make-and-break armature ofelectromagnet 3. That of the device 1 performs the same oiiice for themake-and-break armature of electromagnet 4:. That of device 5moves themake-and-break 1 into engagement with the detent-armature 1 ofelectromagnet 1.

The armature g of electromagnet f is adetent adapted when saidelectromagnet is energized to release the armature h of electromagnet (0which armature is included in a A make-and-break arshunt between thebattery (0, electromagnet a and electromagnet a. The armature m ofelectromagnet cl is a detent, which when the said electromagnet isenergized releases said armature to cause it to close the circuitbetween electromagnets a7 a. The armature n of electromagnet 0 is adetent to engage and release the make-and-break or switch-armature 7?.

Initially the position of the several movable devices of the apparatuswill be as shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the conductor 1 will beengaged by the detent 1 and the conductingarmature 2 will be in positionto break the circuit of the electromagnet 2*. It will be understood thatas a train approaches in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 it willfirst 0perate the circuit-closer 1 and afterward successively operatethe devices 2, 3, 4:, and 5 and that each of said devices will bedepressed as a wheel reaches it and immediately there-.

after raised when the wheel has passed it.

The signal which I use in connection with my improved system is theUnion Electric Banner Signal, well known to those practically skilled inthe art to which my invention relates and which requires a current toset it at danger and another to set it at safety. The showing at Fig. 1assumes that the last train has just passed. Vhen the first wheel of theapproaching train reaches and depresses the device 1, thebattery-circuit 1 is closed, exciting the electromagnet 1", causing thearmature 1 to be attracted and 'to release the spring make-and-break 1and cause the latter to close one side of the circuit, in which thebattery 6', electromagnet Z)", switch-armature b and electromagnet 2 areincluded. When the train reaches and depresses the device 2, said devicecloses the armature 2", thus establishing a circuit from the battery I)through the electromagnet b, switch-armature b electromagnet 2,make-and-break armature 3", make-and-break armature 1 and make-andbreak1 Electromagnet 6 being thus excited attracts the armature a and causesthe latter to operate the stem of the clock and stop the time mechanism.When the device 3 is reached and operated by a wheel of the passingtrain, the armature 3 is closed, thereby cutting out the electromagnet?and making a circuit through the electromagnet 3, battery I), andelectromagnets 7), 0, (Z, and 0. The magnet 5, by again attracting thearmature a, causes the stem of the stop-clock or time mechanism to turnthe hand back to the starting-point, which is indicated at Z. Theelectromagnet 0 attracts its detent-armature 11; but since theswitch-armature 6" is already disengaged the said magnet c in thepresent instance performs no function. The action of the electromagnet dcauses the detent-armature m to release the make-and-break armature aand thereby establish electrical connection between the electromagnets(b a, and the action of the electromagnet 6 causes the make-and-breakarmature Z: to establish a circuit between the battery a and the signalthrough the armatures h and 70, thus causing the signal to turn todanger. When the train reaches and operates the device 4., the switch ormake-and-break armature 4 establishes a circuit through theelectromagnet 4, battery I), and electromagnets b and f, cutting out theelectromagnet 3, and hence cutting out the electromagnet 0 also. Theelectromagnet f by attracting its detent-armature g releases themake-and-break armature it, thus breaking the contact between the latterand the point 2', included in the circuit between the signal and thebattery [0. The electromagnet 6 by attracting its armature a operatesthe stem ofand starts the stop-clock or time mechanism. The samecontinues to runsay five minutes until its hand connects with theelectrodes a, with which it is provided, thereby causing the currentfrom the battery to to ex- .cite the. electromagnets a", a a, and a andto pass to the signal a to set the latter at safety. The electromagnet aattracts the armature U, thus breaking the circuit between the batteryband electromagnet 2 and causing the said armature to be engaged andlocked in open or circuit-breaking position by the detent-armature 12..The electromagnet a by attracting its armature a operates the stem ofthe clock and causes the latter to stop.

The electromagnet a by attracting its armature a breaks its own circuit,and the same continues broken by reason of the engagement of thearmature make-and-break a by the armature-detentm. The electromagnet amoves its armature-switch it into engagement with the detent-armature gand into contact with the point ready to reestablish electricalconnection between the battery (1. and the signal, when theswitch-armature k is attracted by its electromagnetc, as hereinbeforedescribed. As the wheels of thetrain pass over the device 5 they causethe make-and-break 1 to be engaged by the detent-armature 1, therebybreaking the circuit between the electromagnet 4 and the battery 7).

The only function of the device 2 and its connections, as hereinbeforedescribed, is to stop the time mechanism. I have also stated in thisspecification that the hand of the time mechanism as it reaches the endof the time limit closes a circuit which employs the magnet a andarmature (o to stop the time mechanism. Hence if the next train whichfollows does so after the expiration of the time limit there will be nonecessity for stopping the time mechanism, since the same is not inoperation, and hence under such conditions the device 2 and itsconnections will not perform this function; but the said following trainby operating the device 3 as hereinbefore described will close thecircuit including the electromagnet c, and hence the armature 'n will becaused to release the switch-armature b The time mechanism is anindicator which indicates the length of time that has elapsed since thepassage of a train, as will be understood. The armature (4* and theelectromagnets a I) constitute a controller for the time mechanism.

It will be understood from the foregoing that my system is operativeonly in connection with trains moving in one direction and'that inpractice the same will be duplicated to be effective in protectingtrains moving in both directions. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a primarily-open electric circuit including anelectromagnet I) and a switch-armature 6 a time mechanism,

a controller therefor actuated by the said electromagnet b,electromagnets c, d and c, in a switcharmature, a make-and-breakarmature a electromagnet a, therefor, electromagnet a and anelectrically-operated signaling device, a closer for said circuit,operated by the time mechanism, a detent n operated by the electromagnetc for the switch-armature F, a detent m for the make-and-break armature(1/ operated by the electromagnet cl, a make-andbreak armature hoperated by the electromagnet a", a detent g, operated by theelectromagnetf, for said make-and-break armature it, and amake-and-break armature operated by the electromagnet c, and included ina shunt of the last-mentioned circuit, said shunt excludingelectromagnets (b and including make-and-break armature it and theelectrically operated signaling device, and train-operated means toclose and reopen said circuits.

2. In combination with an electrically-operated signaling device,normally open electric circuits, each including the same, a timemechanism having a closer for one of said circuits, a controller for thetime mechanism, electrically-operated means in the said circuits, toactuate the controller, and train-0perated means to close and reopensaid circuits.

3. In combination with an electrically-operated signaling device,normally open electric circuits each including the same, a timemechanism having a closer for one of said circuits, a controller for thetime mechanism, electrically-operated means in the said circuits toactuate the controller, train-operated means to close and subsequentlyreopen one of said circuits, and train-operated means, efl'ective duringthe interval between the closing and reopening of the said circuit, tocontrol said circuits, to effect repeated operation of thetime-mechanism controller, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BERNARD SEVERANCE.

Witnesses:

THoMAs S. EMERY, BLANCHE V0013.

